Page 133 of Tobias

“You heard right. What can I get you?”

I glance over my shoulder, trying to figure out how many pizzas to get. We’ve got seven grown men who have been drinking for some time now.

“I think we’re going to need four.”

Pete taps away on the new fancy touch screen. I’m glad Emmet is doing good things for the bar without changing it too much. We’re getting needed updates but it’s still a safe place. “What do you want on them?”

“Two with all the meat you got.” He smirks, but keeps his gaze on the screen. “One with only pineapple and one with extra cheese.”

He nods, taking my card when I offer it. “Keep it open. And another whiskey, please.”

“You got it, babe,” he says as he swipes my card, then hands it back.

“It’ll be a bit on the pizza. Oven only cooks two at a time.”

“No worries. Let me know when they’re ready, and I’ll come grab them.”

He slides my drink to me, and I take it before going back to my seat.

“Should be done soon,” I say as I sit.

I sip my drink, then put my glass on the table. Nathanial comes over and squishes on the side of me, resting his head on my shoulder.

“You’re sad.”

“I’m not,” I say firmly, rolling my eyes.

“I can smell it on you.”

I put my arm around him, shaking my head.

“I am fine, Nathanial. Please, don’t push this.”

His arm comes around my stomach and he hugs me. “Fine. But for the record, you deserve to be happy.”

Grabbing my drink, I take a mouthful then lean back, listening to the conversations going on around me. Nathanial is still holding onto me like I may run away. It’s always a struggle to get here, because I’m tired and want to sleep, but when I‘m here, I don’t want to leave.

These people are my friends, my family—I trust them. Even if I don’t want to talk to them about the stuff going on with Theo, I can tell them anything, any time. They are amazing people.

A small smile stays on my lips as I listen to them joking around, catching up on their lives. I’m grateful to be a part of this, but even with all my friends surrounding me and Nathanial holding onto me like a koala, I can’t help but feel lonely. I miss Theo. I wish he was here. I miss the way he'dsit here and listen to everyone talk, intrigued by the most basic conversations. He was just happy to be included, to have friends, to be a part of this. To feel welcome and accepted.

My phone buzzes and I pull it from my pocket too quickly, only to find junk email. Though I shouldn’t, I open up Theo’s text thread and stare at the last three texts he sent.

I want to answer him. I shouldn’t, but I want to. Talking to him doesn’t mean I have to forgive him. Maybe hearing him out will help me move on…

“It’s okay to give him another chance, you know.” My eyes dart up and I see Nathanial watching me. “For whatever he did.”

“How do you know it wasn’t me?”

“Wild guess.”

I turn my attention back to the phone.

He adds softly, “People fuck up. We make mistakes. Some people are actually sorry for it.”

Narrowing my eyes, I turn back to Nathanial.

“Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?” I ask.

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